Curriculum and academic staff development (CASD) is a unit located in the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) at CUT. The unit supports the university’s curriculum initiatives, staff development and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) activities. Amongst many things, CASD implements institutional policies related to curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment and academic development initiatives as guided by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and CUT’s policies.

The pursuit for Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) is integral to the growth and success of university teachers and it is aligned with the DHET National Framework for Enhancing Academics as University Teachers (2018). The unit aims to support the ongoing growth of academics, from newly appointed to academic leaders, and to promote excellence and scholarship of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and community engagement. CASD offer different programmes from the coveted Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, Short Learning Programmes, faculty specific, generic workshops and further provides opportunities for academic staff to share pedagogical expertise through the SoTL flagship programme which is twofold; to mentor upcoming academics and to strengthen communities of practice in disciplines.  Furthermore,

• Initiates and coordinates curriculum renewal and transformation initiatives through among others:
• Decolonisation/Africanisation/Indigenisation of the curriculum.
• Internationalisation of the curriculum.
• Transform curriculum through, amongst others Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL).
• Coordinates curriculum-related projects such as the current UCDG curriculum transformation project, scholarship of teaching and learning project and language policy development project funded by DHET.

Curriculum Development and Design

• Developing and designing curricula for a range of academic offerings, including formal mainstream programmes, extended programmes, online courses, student support initiatives, and short learning programmes where applicable.
• Implementing policies and procedures related to curriculum innovation, programme development, institutional curriculum frameworks, and learning material design.
• Providing continuous support to faculties to ensure curriculum alignment with industry needs and national regulatory requirements, including those of DHET, CHE, SAQA, and professional bodies.
• Ensuring that all programmes, modules, and study guides are designed using an outcomes-based approach to enhance learning effectiveness and compliance.

Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education

The PGDIP aims to:

• Professionalise the practice of university lecturers by equipping them with advanced teaching competencies.
• Enhance the quality of teaching and learning in higher education through scholarly engagement with higher education studies.
• Develop critically reflective practitioners who integrate theory, research, and practice in their teaching methodologies.
• Align with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) by deepening lecturers’ understanding of higher education as an academic discipline.
• Improve teaching excellence at CUT and other institutions through evidence-based, reflective, and theory-informed pedagogical approaches.

For more information visit PGDip Higher Education programme | Download the 2026 programme prospectus (PDF) | 04 April 2025

Academic Staff Development

• Provide plans and guidelines for effective incorporation, roll out, Teaching, Learning and assessment of key CUT strategic goals such as Graduate Attributes and Work Integrated Learning.
• Determine training and development needs of academic staff and address appropriately. 
• Coordinate, facilitate and present professional development opportunities for academic staff, including workshops on relevant issues.
• Provide support to academic staff in planning and implementing high quality training sessions and report on the outcomes.
• Assist with completion of teaching portfolios of evidence. 

Coordinate and facilitate training/induction for newly appointed academic staff.

Industry Exposure

• Ensures academic programmes align with South Africa’s labour market and economic needs.
• Enhances practical teaching methods through real world industry insights and applications.
• Strengthens research relevance by addressing local socio-economic and industrial challenges.
• Fosters partnerships with industry for funding, resources, and student opportunities.
• Supports national transformation goals by promoting skills development and inclusive growth.

Dowload the SOTL & CASD Magazine 2024 Vol 2 (PDF) | 04 April 2025

Student Feedback on Learning Experiences

• Provides constructive evaluations of teaching effectiveness, identifying successful instructional methods while highlighting areas needing refinement to optimize student learning outcomes.
• Enhances lecturers' professional development by increasing self-awareness of teaching strengths and weaknesses, enabling targeted improvements in course delivery and engagement strategies.
• Promotes equitable learning environments by revealing potential unconscious biases in teaching practices, allowing for necessary adjustments to ensure fairness.
• Generates valuable institutional data to inform relevant faculty development programs that address real classroom challenges and elevate teaching standards.
• Establishes a continuous improvement cycle where evidence-based feedback leads to regular teaching enhancements, ultimately advancing overall educational quality.